‘The standing committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Rule of Law’ expresses its’ deep concern at the failure of the Commission on Bribery or Corruption to make the public aware of the outcome of the investigations commenced into unaccountable assets of two government party parliamentarians Mervin Silva and Rohitha Abeygunawardhana.
Mervin
These two investigations were given wide publicity and the silence since then has caused widespread speculation as to what has happened to these investigations. “This silence will cause the public to lose faith in the main institution vested with the statutory power to investigate allegations of bribery or corruption.” says the standing committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Rule of Law
Issuing a statement it says; “Further the inaction over the several allegations of corruption in government enterprises and public officers uncovered by the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) is causing doubts in the ability and the will on the part of the commission to act speedily and independently on allegations of bribery or corruption.
“Though we do not, unfortunately, have a statute on ‘Right to Information’, the public is entitled to have information on a matter that affects public life and good governance.
We stress the necessity to demonstrate transparency on these matters so as to maintain public faith in the fight against bribery and corruption.”
Fedrick / October 23, 2013
Many citizens in and around Kesbawa informed to this Bribery Commission about corruptive officers in UDA and TO in Kesbawa Urban council. But did not take any actions and now all these are doing all corruptive practices without any fear. This TO is owned a building plan drawing firm and approving all illegal constructions and protecting illegal garages. If any body did not go to this TO’s firm to draw building plan he ever going to get approval. That is why many unapproved files are in UDA. This TO is using multi millon worth Land Rover for private use and owned many lands, houses and bank accounts. From where these money collected? How he is getting full protection from UDA officers
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Safa / October 23, 2013
The instant action taken by the ‘Bribery Commission’ against former CJ is in marked contrast to its inaction on the misdeeds of politicians and state organisations. Why these double standards? Has Bribery Commission become a den of Bribery and Commissions?
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Capucine da Silva / October 24, 2013
What about the inquiry against P.B.Jayasundara ordered by the Supreme Court?
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Desperate_SL / October 24, 2013
Crimes should be eliminated through crimes –
Mahinda Rajapakshe.
So why not he did not apply this theory with all the perpetrations that are being carried out by this BALDI KAKUSI mouth – Mervin ?
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Bedrock Barney / October 23, 2013
New Rule!!!. If the standing committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka doesn’t know that the Commission on Bribery or Corruption is just a tool in the hands of the ruling regime, to crack the whip when their lap dogs are misbehaving, then committee members must admit that they are not very smart.
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Saman from Galle / October 23, 2013
All accept bribes. Hence only one institution cant be an exception…..?
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Banda / October 23, 2013
Not just the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the entire opposition must take action against ‘bribery and corruption’ to the forefront. We must expose the corrupt politicians. But opposition law makers strive to do the impossible, meaning, they try to topple the government.
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Desperate_SL / October 24, 2013
xxxBando Bando,
how come you finally seem to have realized something.
If you and your ilk would support opposition in that regard, nothing will be impossible.
You say ” we have to expose highly corrupted politicians”. So we can then start with Mahinda Rajapkshe and how he became that rich alone during the last few years.
European leaders seem to have nothing like collected sums of collosal funds after their tenures in politics. So how come Mervin most corrupted man to have that sums of funds to purchase his son a Lambogini while the same age youth are struggling their survivals today, some even after spending 4-5 years of University education at local universities ? Can you please come with constructive responses to all these ?
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Maithree / October 23, 2013
The inactive members of the so called Bribery Comm should be chased away by the citizens of this country as it will never happened by the corrupt rulers. People like Ian Wickramanayaka and Nelum Gamage etc. should be there. The present members are ball suckers of MR & family. Bar association should follow their double action of investigations, and should be very thankful to BASL.
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Peter / October 23, 2013
So what else is new??!!! The BASL must know better than most the state of the Judiciary and how the level of ‘justice’ in Sri Lanka has been made into a joke by the powers that be. The question is what the BASL can do about it, if anything at all…
PS: Looks like Merv has got punched in the eye!
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Lapatiya / October 23, 2013
I think Bar Committee should read the “A(M)hinda Chinthanaya” and “A(M)hinda Chinthanaya Idiri Dakma” fully to understand this kind of things.
As long as Mervin supply “Badu” to Maha Raja Bala-pata-badi can’t do anything even if he did not declare “0” bank balances (most criminal act under “A(M)hinda Chinthanaya) in his annual assets and liabilities statement.
As long as Raththaran disturb the opposition parliamentarians in the Parliment and counting how many ships are coming to the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksha International Port while praising Chinthanaya nothing will happen to him even if he started again his old business in the “Samudra Devi Train”
If these two decided to switch the sides everybody can see how efficient old Bala-pata-badi is.
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Andre / October 25, 2013
I have the feeling that the Role of Mervin in the current regime is similar to that of a rabied dog. They the leadership thought to control anything through Mervin, now they have lost the control over him. Oral patient, Sajitha Senaratne too (the one who came with the biggest lie about the severity of the head injuries of Duminda the killer), would not dare his mouth even if Mervin the kasala sodakaya would harm anyone today. The last biggest tragedy was to attack Ms Pillay by his kind of abusive statements.
May be CBK did not think that the danger of this man to this level at the time, she herself supported the bugger to enter lanken politics.
Yesterday some tourists from EU asked about the security of the country today for the tourists. I did not deny to say, that even the former lankens would want to risk our lives paying visits to MR^s country srilanka. These tourists have travelled to srilanka over the decades irrespective of civil war. I would not recommend anyone to travel to srilanka.
Mervin is placed to get work done where any other educated ones would deny to do them. It is like the uneducated appoint most uneducated servants for their tasks done. See, entire nation would go beyond furious when Mervin would do anything abusing the top leadership.
Tell me, any single incident where those powerful brothers of President have taken any decision against the man.
Mervin is no welcome anywhere. Kelaniya people would NOT accept if MR would appoint him again as the organiser for Kelaniya.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / October 23, 2013
IN A FAMILY,
If the father and mother do not conduct properly,
unmannered, corrupt, lying, cheating, dishonest, and
Rowdies to the Society,
how the heck, their children will become mannered and conduct properly,and honest.
The same principals apply to the Governance,
Ruling Politicos Do not care what their Hench men do.
because The bigger culprits are doing all the JULBARY in bigger scales.
Allowing henchmen to do the what ever raping.
SO, The standing committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Rule of Law’!
do not expect Much fair results from the ruling Family.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS,to How to manipulate the LAW.
as they have installed their own EFFIGY C J to get what they want.
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Andre / October 25, 2013
Amare@, I wonder why the bugger- MR cant take any due action against Mervin. Mervin is a like most harmful weed in our vegetation. If the authorities would stay blind not focusing on uproot this disastrous weed what cant go wrong ? Could they have done that at the very begining, people of this country would have some respect towards Rajapskses. Now many would come with – yes, people of this country even respect more today when looking at the election results. I really dont think, as Gamini once or several time pointed out, if the rulers would hold elections with observation of foreign election committees, Rajapakshes would ever get those numbers. When talking to the common man – tutu driver to pvt and other social areas, many are not satisfied the way Raja has done so far. But for one reason, it is the stop to War, many would still say Rajapakshe is the leader. That is the disadvantage for this nation. They are not capable of seeing beyond.
See, how many of the millions they could save and benefit them for the poor today, if they applied any good systems by re enforcing law and order. I HAVE NO DOUBT, THE COUNTRY WAS NOT THIS MUCH ABUSED NO OTHER TIMES BEFORE 2005.
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punchinilame / October 23, 2013
Has the BASL the legitimacy to persure a Public Interest case re the
failure of action by the Bribery Commissioner? CJ Mohan will ofcourse
give a reason to turn it down – lets see on what grounds.
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justice / October 23, 2013
Earlier it was reported that SB Dissanayake who had built a massive mansion – photos were in the media – at hangurangeta,had told the bribery commission that he had been given gifts of cash by his friends and these were the source of his wealth.
The commission had apparently accepted this explanation and did not proceed against him.
Maybe the same explanation has been tendered by Mervin & Rohitha.
But the same commission has found a Zero Bank Account of CJ Shirani B,
a serious omission of ?assets?
Strange are the purveyers of “justice” in sri lanka.
The Bar Association has now woken up at last.
But,how many lawyers give receipts for fees and declare all earnings to Inland Revenue?
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Backlash / October 24, 2013
Justice,
Did the former CJ’s account show Zero sum post-March 31 – after she had taken the cash out to avoid the IRD deadline?
Backlash
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Peacelover / October 23, 2013
Where is BBS on this ? over to BBS rep in CT and to jokers like Ella kolla (who will write something offensive and get his post deleted)and K A Sumansekera alias ‘Leela’ (who will say Sambandan is behind all this!)
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Lapatiya / October 23, 2013
@Peacelover,
It is not fair to challenge “Boga bara Sena” over this minor issue of Mervin and Raththaran as they are engaged in a very serious issue of “Halal”. After “Halal” only “Haram” will remain in the country.
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Douglas / October 24, 2013
Where is the OPPOSITION led by Ranil & Co.? Has the Opposition ever taken up this Minister’s case of “misbehaviour in public” and all sorts of allegations of bribery and corruption? Don’t we smell a rat in all this silence of the Opposition?
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Desperate_SL / October 24, 2013
Did not you notice it yet – when it comes to real issue for the benefit of the entire nation – BBS is deaf and blind ?. Only to attack muslim srilankens they have been appointed by secretary of Defence – POWERFUL GOTTTTTTTTTTTABAYA…
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Rod / October 24, 2013
What about Wimal Weearawansa a pauper once now owns a palatial house at Kkaduwela. It may be in his wife’s name to cover. Up I am sure
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james / October 24, 2013
EVERYONE IS TAKING BRIBES..
Most payouts are at the top and then comes down to nothing at the bottom
Why is everyone pretending that this is a big surprise!! Hello Wake up!
Income tax only has to check how each and everyone has accumlated asserts and the lifestyle. Then not one will be able to give a reasonable answer
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Andre / October 25, 2013
You may be right.
That should be taught from the nursery on how ones should have to live without being caught by bribes.
So, to this end, country will need foreign teachers to train the first batch of teachers so that they can give it further.
In Germany, Switzerland, or many other European countries, even if you loose your purse filled with money, that you would get back with no loss. Each and every corner there are offices to help out anyone who has lost anything.
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kuma / October 28, 2013
Then what about raja crook and his hora samagama syphone billions of dollrsaout of rhe country that was taken from foreign contractors/if moda sinhalayo allow these crooks to be in power any further they will wreck this country into pieces and bankrupt this nation very soon.
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ROY SILVA / October 30, 2013
RAJA [Edited out] AND HIS GANGSTERS WILL [Edited out]THIS WHOLE NATION
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